THE ROSARY AS A WEAPON OF
PEACE
Message given by Pope John Paul II on
Sept. 29, 2002
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
1. We are already at the threshold of the month of
October, which, with the liturgical Memorial of the Blessed Virgin of the
Rosary, moves us to rediscover this traditional prayer, which is so simple
yet so profound.
The rosary is a contemplative view of the face of Christ
carried out, so to speak, through Mary's eyes. Therefore, it is a prayer
that is at the very heart of the Gospel, and is in full harmony with the
inspiration of the Second Vatican Council and very much in keeping with
the indication I gave in the apostolic letter "Novo Millennio Ineunte": It
is necessary that the Church "go into the deep" of the new millennium
beginning with the contemplation of the face of Christ.
Therefore, I wish to suggest the recitation of the rosary
to individuals, to families and to Christian communities. To give force to
this request, I am also preparing a document, which will help to
rediscover the beauty and depth of this prayer.
2. I wish to entrust once again the great cause of peace
to the prayer of the rosary. We are faced with an international situation
full of tensions, of incandescent dimensions. In some parts of the world,
where the confrontation is stronger -- I am thinking in particular of the
martyred land of Christ -- we can see that, although always necessary, the
political attempts are worth little if spirits remain exacerbated and
there is no ability to demonstrate a heartfelt disposition to renew the
line of dialogue.
But, who can infuse such sentiments, save God alone? It is
more necessary than ever that prayers for peace be raised to him
throughout the world. Precisely in this perspective, the rosary reveals
itself as a particularly appropriate prayer. It constructs peace also
because, while appealing to God's grace, it sows in the one reciting it
the seed of good, from which fruits of justice and solidarity in personal
and community life can be expected.
I am thinking of nations, but also of families: how much
peace would be assured in family relations, if the holy rosary was prayed
by the family!
3. I extend a warm greeting to the English-speaking
pilgrims and visitors, and invite you to make the month of October a time
of special attention to the recitation of the rosary, the great prayer of
intercession to Mary. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy and
peace of the Lord.
The Fifteen
Promises of Mary to those Who Recite the Rosary
- Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary,
shall receive signal graces.
- I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those
who shall recite the Rosary.
- The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy
vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
- It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for
souls the abundant mercy of God; it will with- draw the hearts of men
from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the
desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by
this means.
- The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the
Rosary, shall not perish.
- Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the
consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by
misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not
perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the
grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
- Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die
without the sacraments of the Church.
- Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their
life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His
graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of
the saints in paradise.
- I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the
Rosary.
- The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of
glory in heaven.
- You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
- All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by me in
their necessities.
- I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the
Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during
their life and at the hour of death.
- All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son
Jesus Christ.
- Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
How to Pray the
Rosary?
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Apostle Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of
heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our
Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and
born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died and was buried.
He descended to the dead. On the third
day, He rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right
hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the
dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic
Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Our Father
Our Father in heaven, holy be your name;
your
kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today
our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin
against us.
Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from
evil.
Amen.
Hail Mary (3 times)
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with
you;
blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us of our sins. Save us from the fires of hell,
and bring all souls to heaven,
especially those most in
need of your mercy.
Amen
Mysteries: Announce the First
Mystery
Our Father
Our Father in heaven, holy be your name;
your
kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today
our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin
against us.
Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from
evil.
Amen.
Hail Mary (10 times)
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with
you;
blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us of our sins. Save us from the fires of hell,
and bring all souls to heaven,
especially those most in
need of your mercy.
Amen
Mysteries: Announce the Second Mystery
Our Father
Our Father in heaven, holy be your name;
your
kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today
our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin
against us.
Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from
evil.
Amen.
Hail Mary (10 times)
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with
you;
blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us of our sins. Save us from the fires of hell,
and bring all souls to heaven,
especially those most in
need of your mercy.
Amen
Mysteries: Announce the Third Mystery
Our Father
Our Father in heaven, holy be your name;
your
kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today
our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin
against us.
Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from
evil.
Amen.
Hail Mary (10 times)
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with
you;
blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us of our sins. Save us from the fires of hell,
and bring all souls to heaven,
especially those most in
need of your mercy.
Amen
Mysteries: Announce the Fourth Mystery
Our Father
Our Father in heaven, holy be your name;
your
kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today
our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin
against us.
Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from
evil.
Amen.
Hail Mary (10 times)
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with
you;
blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us of our sins. Save us from the fires of hell,
and bring all souls to heaven,
especially those most in
need of your mercy.
Amen
Mysteries: Announce the Fifth Mystery
Our Father
Our Father in heaven, holy be your name;
your
kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today
our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin
against us.
Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from
evil.
Amen.
Hail Mary (10 times)
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with
you;
blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us of our sins. Save us from the fires of hell,
and bring all souls to heaven,
especially those most in
need of your mercy.
Amen
Concluding Prayers:
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy;
Hail our life,
our sweetness and our hope!
To you do we cry, poor banished children of
Eve,
to you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this
valley of tears.
Turn then, O most gracious Advocate, your eyes of
mercy towards us,
and after this exile, show us the blessed fruit of
your womb, Jesus!
O Clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, most Holy Mother of God.
That we may
be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
O God
Let us Pray.
O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death,
and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant,
we beseech You, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy
Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and
obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Divine Will